‘Shameless and arrogant’: Beijing’s top man on Hong Kong affairs slams US tariffs
Xia Baolong calls US ‘the biggest sinister manipulator undermining human rights, freedom, the rule of law, prosperity and stability in Hong Kong’
Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong affairs has slammed the US’ “arrogant and shameless” imposition of tariffs and stressed that local entrepreneurs have a leading role in driving the economy, warning that those who betray national interests at critical times will “meet a grim fate and bear the curse of history”.
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, also sought to reassure Hongkongers on Tuesday that the country would stand side by side with the city to face the US “bully” and that it would be “naive” to think that bowing down to it would achieve peace.
In a strongly worded, pre-recorded keynote speech at a ceremony to mark the 10th National Security Education Day, Xia covered a range of issues including American tariffs, US sanctions against city officials and the role of local entrepreneurs, a topic in the spotlight because of the controversial planned sale by CK Hutchison Holdings of its two ports at the Panama Canal.
“Despite Hong Kong being the largest source of the US trade surplus, the United States still imposed high tariffs on it. This is extremely arrogant and shameless,” Xia said.
“This makes it clearer to the world that the US cannot tolerate Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and it is the biggest sinister manipulator undermining human rights, freedom, the rule of law, prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.